15 September 2025
Last Sunday morning, just before travelling to the airport to fly home, I went for a quick walk along a path next to the Mekong River. Those of you who know your geography will know that the mighty Mekong is one of Asia’s longest rivers, flowing almost 2,700 miles from the Tibetan Plateau in China to the South China Sea in Vietnam, passing through six countries along the way. In Cambodia, where I was fortunate enough to be, the Mekong is known as the “mother of waters.” It sustains those who live along its banks, providing water, fishing, irrigation, as well as serving as a busy trade route.
So, as I walked along the riverside path for about 25 minutes in each direction, I passed local families out for a stroll: some preparing to picnic, others sitting in cafés or buying food from the many stalls. On the other side of the path, boats travelled steadily up and down the wide, rather muddy river.
At the end of the 1970s, it would all have been very different. Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, had become a ghost city. Almost the entire population was forced to go, leaving behind empty homes, schools, and shops. The city was silent except for Khmer Rouge soldiers patrolling. The bustling riverside I saw would have been completely empty — no families walking, no cafés or boats, just deserted streets.
In 1975, a group of communist fighters known as the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot took control of Cambodia. They forced everyone to leave the cities and work in the countryside under brutal conditions, with little food and no freedom. Public buildings such as shops, and hospitals were closed. Millions died from hunger, disease, or violence before the regime was overthrown in 1979. People who read books, wore glasses, spoke foreign languages, or were considered “intellectuals” were arrested and often killed.
During this period, all schools were closed. Teachers, students, and anyone connected with learning were sent to hard labour – or worse - and over the decades since, Cambodia has gradually set about rebuilding its educational system. Just last week, Bromsgrove Cambodia opened its doors — a superb building with some of the best facilities in the country and at the opening, the founder said:
“I have long dreamed of contributing to the development of Cambodia’s education sector and establishing a school that offers Cambodian children the same enriching education available in advanced countries around the world.”
I don’t think any of us here have ever feared being seen as clever. Reading books, learning languages, and perhaps wearing glasses have been encouraged by our parents. Our families make sacrifices to give us an education that will provide the best opportunities later in life — perhaps even the education they wished they could have had themselves.
Our challenge is to make the most of these opportunities. Are we giving our best in every lesson and prep? Are we satisfied with work that is just “fine,” or do we push ourselves to do better? When we struggle, do we ask for help straight away and try again? And beyond the classroom — do we explore the huge range of opportunities available here, or do we stick to what is comfortable rather than discovering a new talent?
You will have heard of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who, at 15, was shot by a Taliban gunman while travelling to school. She was targeted because she spoke out against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education. Malala survived, was treated in Birmingham, continued her studies, campaigned for right of girls as well as boys to have an education, graduated from Oxford, and became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize winner. She believed that education is the most powerful way to improve lives and make the world a better place.
You may know the saying: “Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.” Perhaps not quite all of us leapt out of bed this morning thrilled to start another week of school — but given all that we have here, far more than many young people around the world, we have a responsibility to make the very best of it.
I know it never goes down well simply to be told how lucky we are — but the experience we share here, and the opportunities laid out before us, are truly special and would be the envy of many. We should take every opportunity to be the best we can be, seek the help that is available, and hold ourselves to the high standards we are capable of reaching. Used well, our education can transform our own lives — and allow us to make life better for others.
Introduction to 201 by Ilerioluwa & Jasper
Somebody once said “If I want to read a good book, I write one” And that’s exactly what we think at 201. Rather than complaining about the reading that we have to do for lessons, we write the articles that we want to read. And you can, too.
201, the school’s student magazine is our magazine - it belongs to all of us and offers every single one of you sitting here the opportunity to let your voice be heard. So, as we do at the start of every year, we’re offering you the chance to input your ideas.
This summer the 201 team was invited to the Stationer’s Hall on Fleet Street in London for the annual Shine awards and was highly commended yet again in several areas. Annika Koch’s winning article from 2024 meant that she got to spend time at the Daily Mail and is now Chief editor of the student magazine at her university in the Netherlands.
So whether your interests lie in science or sci-fi, the classics or el classico, fine arts, go-carts or jam tarts; equal rights, bun fights or movie nights; whether you’re a novelist, a painter, a photographer or a poet; a satirist or a journalist – we want to know it. We can get you published, immortalised - as well as make your Uni application look that little bit more impressive than the next person’s.
The magazine team meets in H3 on Thursday lunchtimes – bring your lap-top and an open mind. Or, if you want to contribute but can’t commit to the session, contact Mr Williams. We’d be delighted to consider your work.